Zidane: Madrid must thank the Bernabeu
Madrid's fans were quick to voice dissatisfaction before their side overcame Real Sociedad 3-0 but Zinedine Zidane praised their support.
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2ovkL25Cptbehz7vsQQaXU.jpg)
Zinedine Zidane praised Real Madrid's supporters despite his players once again having to endure whistles from the Santiago Bernabeu stands during Sunday's 3-0 win over 10-man Real Sociedad.
Madrid are four points clear at the top of LaLiga with a game in hand on Barcelona and Sevilla after their nearest rivals faltered against Real Betis and Espanyol respectively.
Cristiano Ronaldo set up Mateo Kovacic's 37th-minute opener and added a second shortly after half-time, but the four-time Ballon d'Or winner was not spared from the barracking that occurred during an unconvincing opening spell from Zidane's men.
Madrid crashed out of the Copa del Rey in midweek at Celta Vigo to extend a slump of one win in five matches heading into the Sociedad match, but Zidane felt his club's fanbase broadly fell into line with pre-match pleas for unity from the likes of Ronaldo and captain Sergio Ramos.
"We must thank the Bernabeu," he told a news conference, having seen substitute Alvaro Morata add a third after Sociedad centre-back Inigo Martinez was sent off.
"Sometimes we are bothered by some whistles but today the fans have been very food and altogether achieved something very important, I think.
"It is a very important victory for us after a few difficult days. It was a very complete match against a complicated opponent.
Get FourFourTwo Newsletter
The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.
"It was very important to keep a clean sheet and, in addition, the other results have favoured us."
![LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 5: Arne Slot Manager of Liverpool congratulates Mohamed Salah of Liverpool after the 4-0 victory during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD4 match between Liverpool FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen at Anfield on November 5, 2024 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Crystal Pix/MB Media/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/q3ie7X2vDDiU7X6C9HVRK7-840-80.jpg)
‘The pure simplicity of the way Slot has managed the squad is probably the biggest thing I could say about him. It’s not broken, so let’s get on with it’: Liverpool legend full of admiration for Jurgen Klopp's successor at Anfield
![CARDIFF, UNITED KINGDOM - JUNE 02: Wales captain Ryan Giggs shakes the hand of manager John Toshack after being substituted on his last International appearance for his country during the Euro 2008 Group D Qualifying Match between Wales and Czech Republic at the Millennium Stadium on June 2, 2007 in Cardiff, Wales. Photo by (Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ooQ9oNmgvfUUG8TBUhn6BK-840-80.jpg)
‘I trained at Spurs and thought they’d give me a chance. But I received a letter thanking me but saying they didn’t think I was good enough – I was gutted’: How Tottenham missed out on signing Wales legend John Toshack